First Lines of Anne Whitney
A sweet hope fluttering at my heart A thing that glideth about Ah, working-day life, Alas! and yesternight I woke in terror, All's to gain, And for that thou art Beauty, and thy name As pleasant a man as you would see, Darkness surrounds me with its phantom hosts, Dim Eden of delight, Easily moved, easily swayed From all these mounds, though day blows fresh and warm, Go wear your tortured smile; speak and say nought; Gray strength of years! I dreamed an angel, Angel twice, through death, I dwelt content with God and loving all, I know this spirit bridges unknown space I pledge you in a cup not overbrimming. In the still hours, a stiller strength was born Largess from seven-fold heavens, I pray, descend Look northward from this rock and see, Loud heart, that sleep'st when the world's awake, Might we make quest, through this soft circling sky, No slight caprice rules thee. -- Who sounds one note O calmly, lovingly, Night, vast and deep, O fair mistrust of earth's more solid shows! O high-born souls, such as God sends to mould O Mankind's God! most silent and most lowly O night, a terrible dismay still lurks Of better fortune coming, then, talk not, Once, spirit, as a little child, I went Seem I beyond thy reach of eye So reed-like fragile, in the world's whirl nought, Stoop low, dear Night, a little star-breeze wakes The cross, the thorns, the cruel nails again! Thou seem'st to solve the eternal unity Thou teachest better things unto my heart, Twas then we said, thrice happy in our earth, Within my life another life runs deep, Would but the sun shine, Yet are there sunbeams, though the kingly sun You are welcome, world, to censure and carp: You should have seen it, sire; a vicious thing,